Thought experiments — inviting students to mentally simulate scientific scenarios — can be as impactful as hands-on experiments. A recent study, The Mind Lab: Thought Experiments as a Means to Teaching Science Effectively and Efficiently by Igor Bascandziev, Adani Abutto, Caren M. Walker, and Elizabeth Bonawitz, explored whether thought experiments can help students develop physics concepts as effectively as hands-on labs.
In the study, a total of 100 school students were divided into three groups. One group worked through thought experiments, another carried out hands-on experiments, and a control group did neither. Both the thought and hands-on groups showed clear gains in understanding from pre- to post-assessment, while the control group did not. The study highlighted that students learned as effectively through mental simulation as they did through hands-on experimentation.
The researchers concluded that thought experiments are not only just as effective as hands-on labs in this context but can also be more efficient — requiring far less time, equipment, and setup.
Key Takeaways & Classroom Examples
1. Minds-On Learning Can Be as Effective as Hands-On
Students can develop deep scientific understanding through mental simulations alone in place of physical experiments.
Example: When teaching buoyancy, ask: “Imagine dropping a heavy metal block in water — does it sink or float? Now, picture the same block shaped into a boat — what happens?” Students reason through the outcomes before you reveal the science behind displacement.
2. Strengthening Scientific Reasoning
Encouraging students to predict, explain, and compare outcomes fosters logical thinking and problem-solving skills essential to science.
Example: To explore inertia, ask: “If you slide a book across the floor and let go, what happens? Now imagine doing the same in outer space — what changes?” Students discuss and refine their reasoning across contexts.
3. Modeling Curiosity Promotes a Growth-Oriented Mindset
Showing it is okay not to have all the answers encourages questioning, investigation, and a positive attitude toward scientific discovery.
Example: When exploring why objects float, you might say: “I’m not sure why this happens exactly — let’s think it through together and test our ideas.” Students learn that curiosity and reasoning are central to science, not just having the “right” answer.
For teachers, thought experiments open up new ways to bring science alive — no lab coats or specialised equipment required. By encouraging students to imagine scenarios, test ideas in their minds, and explain their reasoning, you can strengthen conceptual understanding and nurture genuine scientific thinking.
Used alongside hands-on labs — or in place of them when resources are limited — thought experiments help students ask better questions, think critically, and engage with science in meaningful and memorable ways.
For a deeper dive into the research, explore the full study here: The Mind Lab: Thought Experiments as a Means to Teaching Science Effectively and Efficiently.
Extra-Curriculum STEAM activities that may be of interest:
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